Essentials of Getting Dressed #01: Staying ‘On Trend’ Without Shopping
What to do when you start believing you have to buy something new.
A semi-casual look from Tibi’s fall 2024 collection. Image via Tibi.
Once every two years or so a pressure creeps up on me. It’s the pressure to “keep up” and buy something new, as if a new item of clothing will somehow breathe new life into the pieces I already have.
Here, I sport a 'fuzzy halo' (as my mom calls it) after running errands all over creation this week.
Wearing a Uniqlo T-shirt with a Tory Burch sweater vest (here is a cool, color-blocked one) and sailor pants, a go-to look of mine for the last few years.
After wearing a particular outfit for a couple years or more, regardless of whether anyone is paying attention or what the trend cycle is, I begin to feel self-conscious. Do I seem broke? Lazy? Uncreative?
~
"There is an idea of a collective in the name of Bottega Veneta, in which individuals bring their unique perspectives. This shared effort keeps the brand in motion."
I come back to this quote from creative director Matthieu Blazy when I find myself getting sucked into wanting to project a certain image with my clothes, rather than dressing myself from a place of individual expression and comfort.
Two looks from Bottega Veneta’s pre-fall 2024 collection. Images via Bottega Veneta.
The collective is what is most unpretentious about fashion, what reminds us that there is a reason many of us return to the same top, jacket or pair of pants over and over again. That, at its core, a well-made and well-fitting piece of clothing doesn’t go out of style.
Our individual and unique perspective, on the other hand, is where we find home in our own wardrobe. Rather than merely setting us apart, it brings us inward, reminding us of the colors, fabrics and patterns that bring us closer to ourselves within the collective.
A Babaton button-down shirt and Scanlan Theodore turtleneck (the thin, baby wool is ideal for layering), paired with my go-to loafers from Tod’s and a JW Anderson x Uniqlo skirt (similar one).
~
New York-based brand Tibi creates collections through the lens of “Creative Pragmatism.” Below, a modern take on a classic denim, button-down shirt and coat ensemble:
Brand founder Amy Smilovic fosters personal expression that is functional and wearable. Image via Tibi.
I have recently incorporated the white sock/black shoe combination into my own tried and true looks:
Wearing a vintage Tommy Hilfiger jacket and a quarter-zip polo shirt with Tory Burch sailor pants, Rothy’s flats, Uniqlo socks and a Ferragamo crossbody bag. I shared an Instagram reel on how to switch up this look with the current temperamental spring weather! Oh, and I almost always accessorize with Able jewelry.
When the pressure to purchase something new is stripped away, there’s room to surprise yourself with the outfits that can be put together with your existing wardrobe. While I’ve added a few items to my closet this year, there is excitement and creativity in blending the old with the new.
~
With that, thank you so much for being here. This was the first installment of the Essentials of Getting Dressed series. Every few weeks someone says to me, “Kyoko, I just need to know how to get dressed. I don’t even know where to start,” and honestly, I am always at a loss for what to say. How we get dressed is deeply personal, and helping people do this confidently and intentionally is an ongoing journey. I seek to explore the idea of "how to get dressed" through this series.
If you’re enjoying my articles, I gently encourage you to subscribe below so I can greet you each week with new stories! Until next time, wear that thing in your closet you’ve been wearing for years and LOVE!
Yours Truly,
Kyoko
I am not compensated for the features listed in All-Year Season. My sincerest thank you to Bottega Veneta and Tibi for supporting the creation of this post.
